European Social Innovation Competition 2014
What was the 2014 European Social Innovation Competition about?
The second edition of the Competition ‘The Job Challenge’ sought innovative solutions for creating new types of work and address social needs. It was funded by the European Commission.
What happened?
The Commission received 1,254 ideas out of which three were awarded with a prize of €30,000 each.
The jury was composed of 12 experts in social innovation, independent from the European Commission and from various countries and backgrounds. Each of the proposals from the finalists clearly illustrates innovation, potential for impact and ability to be scaled-up and sustained.
The winning projects aimed to help disadvantaged women by employing them to create affordable and limited fashion collections, create jobs in the sector of urban farming, and convert abandoned social housing into learning spaces and entrepreneurship labs.
This challenge was funded by
We believe that the winning projects can take advantage of unmet social needs and create sustainable jobs.
I want these projects to be scaled up and replicated and inspire more social innovations in Europe. We need to tap into this potential to bring innovative solutions to the needs of our citizens and create new types of work.
The winners
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From waste to wow! QUID project (Italy)
‘From waste to wow! QUID project’ is a fashion business demands perfection, and slightly damaged textile cannot be used for top brands. The project intends to recycle this first quality waste into limited collections and thereby provide jobs to disadvantaged women. This is about creating highly marketable products and social value through recycling.
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Urban Farm Lease (Belgium)
Urban Farm Lease is an urban agriculture could provide 6,000 direct jobs in Brussels, and an additional 1,500 jobs considering indirect employment (distribution, waste management, training or events). The project aims at providing training, connection and consultancy so that unemployed people take advantage of the large surfaces available for agriculture in the city (e.g. 908 hectares of land or 394 hectares of suitable flat roofs).
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Voidstarter (Ireland)
All major cities in Europe have “voids”, units of social housing which are empty because city councils have insufficient budgets to make them into viable homes. At the same time these cities also experience pressure with social housing provision and homelessness. Voidstarter will provide unemployed people with learning opportunities alongside skilled tradespersons in the refurbishing of the voids.
Other editions of the Competition
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European Social Innovation Competition 2021
Looking for scalable social innovations that will contribute to job creation, growth and competitiveness in Europe.
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European Social Innovation Competition 2020
Looking for ideas that improve the environmental and social impact of the European fashion market.
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European Social Innovation Competition 2019
Tackling the problem of rising plastic waste levels across the world
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European Social Innovation Competition 2018
Seeking innovative projects to empower young people to participate in a changing economy.
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European Social Innovation Competition 2017
Seeking innovations to equip all members of society with skills and opportunities for a changing economy.
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European Social Innovation Competition 2016
Supporting creative approaches to realise the potential of refugees and migrants in the EU.
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European Social Innovation Competition 2015
Supported individuals and organisations with game-changing ideas for social innovation projects.
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European Social Innovation Competition 2013
The first edition of the Competition ‘New forms of work’ sought innovative solutions for creating new opportunities for work, and for better work.
What is the European Social Innovation Competition?
Launched in memory of social innovation pioneer Diogo Vasconcelos, the European Social Innovation Competition is a challenge prize run by the European Commission across all EU Member States and Horizon 2020 Associated Countries. Now in its 8th year, the Competition acts as a beacon for social innovators in Europe, employing a proven methodology for supporting early-stage ideas and facilitating a network of radical innovators shaping society for the better. Each year the Competition is based around a different issue facing Europe.